How do you keep yourself down to earth??

[TigerLilly]

I like to think I'm a simple person. As long as I have family/friends, a roof over my head, clothes on my back, food in my stomach & a job I love--I'm happy. The only thing I'd change in my life would be the amount of land I have...instead of 2 acres, I'd like to have more. But only so I could have more animals & room for crops. I'm starting an expanded garden this year in an effort to spend less at the grocery store (& to have things that I don't normally 'splurge' on, like peppers & cantalopes).
I don't like phones & wouldn't have my home phone if it wasn't for work. I rarely talk on it & when I do, usually it's only if someone calls me. I have a cell phone that I use even less than my home phone; I have it because I used to work an hour from home & had to travel some lonely, backwoods roads. Emergency purposes only, but 1/2 the time I don't have it with me & the other 1/2 of the time I don't know where it is! It only costs me $100 a YEAR.

What REALLY keeps me grounded though, is seeing 2 of my sisters that are so materialistic...and unhappy. They have had numerous & different plastic surgeries, wear makeup to the point of gaudiness, have their nails/toes done & of course they have to drive new & flashy vehicles which are (of course), traded up every couple of years or so. Oh, & name brand fashions--can't forget that! Me, overalls, jeans, t-shirts, sneakers, boots and NO makeup. The only name brand stuff I wear is if it's bought from a consignment shop; other than that, I can't tell you what 'brand' my clothes are.

The simpler, the better, I say!

 

[feather and mountain man]

Quote:

We sound a lot alike you and I.

 

[Luvducks]

I became grounded as I got older. When I was a teenager and early 20's it seemed like life was a competition. Who makes more money, drives a more expensive car and so on. I did not REALLY want to be in the competition but got caught up in it. Let myself I should say. We moved to Colorado from PA 7 years ago and bought 40 acres and got more bang for our buck so to speak. I Love it here and feel like this is where I belong. I am Content as long as I have my animals. I do not ever go to the mall and hate shopping. I was not a happy person when I was materialistic. I am Content now and HAPPY. If I had more money I would spend it on More Fencing, a Bigger Coop, More Incubators. Everything Animal! Good Thread!

 

[BarkerChickens]

My home (garden, pets, location, etc) and husband keep me grounded.

I work in Orange County in Southern CA...if you have ever watched TV, you know how VERY city much of the county can be. I, however, live 74 miles one way from the office and wouldn't change it for the world (well, maybe move across town to a larger, more private property, but that doesn't change the commute). The commute is long, but I live in a quiet neighborhood on a 1/2 acre (hence the move across town comment) with our dogs, cats, chickens, rabbits, fruit trees and large garden. My citified coworkers think I am nuts (though they usually use the term redneck (I prefer country personally)). I make our own bread, we usually grow enough in the garden to freeze veggies for the year, and I can as much as possible. Our "fun outings" usually involve hiking, etc. Same with our vacations (backpacking, camping, etc). To be able to go from the city (asphalt/concrete/traffic EVERYWHERE) to a quiet home with DIRT and nature is priceless!

We like it very simple, but we still feel that we are far from where we want to be. I have a facebook that I check periodically to stay in touch with people I know; DH won't touch it. Neither of us are into the twittering thing. We have personal cells, which I think is important given our commutes and I have a work cell, provided and paid for by work and used only for work. No reception? Good...sounds like a quiet day. It was only a couple years ago we even had reception at our house.

 

[Tala]

I *need* a GOOD cell phone for work. (I had a Tracfone before, service was good but the phone was crap) I *enjoy* several of the fringe benefits of a smartphone, like gps, web browsing (BYC fix!) and FB, and honestly I NEVER check my email on the desktop anymore since it all comes to my phone, but it wouldn't be the end of the world without it.
Afterall, somehow I lived for 3 years with the crapola Tracfone.

My pets keep me down to earth. Sometimes they are the only thing that keeps me from throwing in the towel and just leaving town. I gotta take them, and chickens aren't exactly portable (rules out living in the truck or a small apartment type place) heck currently I have chicks so paying the electric bill is required too.

 

[Royd]

Being without a parachute, keeps me grounded.

 

[kuntrygirl]

Quote:
I will tell you that when we get married, I may spend $50 on a dress, but I am gonna go all out on the shoes. It is all about the shoes the second time around.

When and if I get married, there will NOT be a wedding. Justice of the peace or whomever is licensed to marry us will do it. I'm too cheap to have a wedding.

 

[annie3001]

hello,
i keep grounded and very down to earth, because i just try my hardest not to worry and get along with everyone. I see everyday like theres always tomorrow. I go to work, but knowing its only 6 hours and I'll be home soon.

i have a cellphone, but only for emergency. I could care less about new technology but have to learn because of my 2 young toddlers.
I dont check my personal email all that much, so i am not attached to that. mmmm what else.... i just love being outdoors and soooo happy about all the animals i have (such a dream to have as many as we do) and very happy where we live.
most of all, i am happy. things need to get done, but to smile and tell my family how much i love them, means more to me than any money can offer!

 

[gryeyes]

Gravity works well enough for me. Sometimes TOO well.

1. I can tell because I have trouble getting up from prone or supine positions. Especially those that occur suddenly, after a fall.

2. I stopped wearing foundation garments. Oh, yes, there is gravity!

3. Chickens are simple. They make me laugh. Hard to be all high falutin' when you got chicken poop on the tops of your shoes, because a favorite hen rested there for a bit of time while you enjoyed the warm sunshine, sitting on a retaining wall.

4. Prescription meds help, too, if all else fails.

 

[darkmatter]

I married into an Irish family-------they have no trouble keeping grounded. They once told me no Irish is ever so drunk that (s)he couldn't survive a "loss of gravity" by holding onto a blade of grass! (I think they were talking about using their teeth even, should the need arise)

Having been a Submariner myself, I have the opposite problem, I need to surface only one time more then I submerge.